20.09.2007 – 17:45

Kofi Annan Receives Russell-Whitehead Business Humanitarian Award

The Business Humanitarian Forum Association has
presented its annual Russell-Whitehead Business Humanitarian Award to
former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi A. Annan,
for his exemplary work in encouraging responsible business policies
and private sector support for humanitarian agencies of the United
Nations. The award was conferred during a ceremony at the Hotel
Intercontinental in Geneva on September 20 and attended by numerous
heads of UN agencies, embassies as well as local government and
private sector representatives.

The Business Humanitarian Forum Association (BHF), established in
1999, encourages private sector support for humanitarian efforts, and
promotes sustainable economic development where it is needed most.
The BHF does this by arranging for direct private sector involvement
and investment in post-conflict and developing countries, and by
providing training and facilitating dialogue between public
organizations and private companies. The BHF has initiated and
carried out several humanitarian and economic development projects in
different parts of the world and has helped create partnerships
between business, humanitarian agencies and local governments.

The Russell-Whitehead Business Humanitarian Award is named after
the two Honorary Co-Chairmen of the BHF, Mr. George F. Russell Jr,
and Mr. John C. Whitehead. The award was established in 2004 to
recognize outstanding achievement in the field of humanitarian
affairs involving the private sector.

The 2007 award has been presented to former United Nations
Secretary General Kofi A. Annan in recognition of his continuing
efforts to raise awareness globally of the need for private
businesses to help resolve humanitarian problems. Through
organizational creativity such as the establishment of the Global
Compact as well as through countless personal efforts to bring the
two sectors into more productive alignment, Mr. Annan has shown
exceptional understanding of the real humanitarian potential that the
private sector can bring to sustainable economic development in the
world at large. His admirable work has helped increase mutual
comprehension by both the public and private sectors, both of which
must contribute to achieving mankind's goals of reducing poverty,
creating jobs, and providing a better life for people everywhere.

The first award was presented to Mr. Rory O'Riordan, President of
the European Generic Medicines Association, for his work in bringing
the resources of the generic pharmaceutical sector to bear on
providing essential medicines to post-conflict and developing areas.
The second awardee, in 2006, was Mr. Farooq Kathwari, CEO of Ethan
Allen Industries, for his humanitarian efforts relating to the
problems of Kashmir.

Contact:

BHF Secretariat
Mr. Roberto Dotta
7-9 Chemin de Balexert
1219 Châtelaine (Geneva), Switzerland
Tel.: +41/22/795'18'00
Fax: +41/22/795'18'09
E-Mail: bhinfo@bhforum.org
Internet: www.bhforum.org